Sound-modifier.



T. A. EDISON. SOUN D MODIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED 1020.9, 1910.

1 1 1 0,382. P en ed Sept. 15,1914L,

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TIGN on NEW JERSEY.

risen snares PATENT OFFIQE.

OF LLEWELLYN PARK, "WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A$3SIGIOR 1W JERSEY PATENT COMPANY, OF "WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CURPORA- SOUND-MODIFIER Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1910.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914. Serial No. %,586.'

To all 207mm. if m 113 concern: 1

me it lznown that I, Tuonas .i. Eon-X, l

L a rim on of the lnited States. and a resident Llewellyn Park, West Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new andusct'ul Improvements in Sound- Mcdifiers, or which the following; is a dcscription.

My invention relates to devices for modi lying or varying the volume or loudness of sound produced by a phonograph or talking machine. Such devices as commonly used comprise a metallic part, such as a butterfly valve, located at some point in the sound conveyer, which valve is opened to a greater or less extent to vary the area. of cross sec= tion. of the convoyer through which the sound reproduced passes. Such a device l i i l l r objectionable because of the sharp angular cOrdingly, is to produce an ei'fioient and serviceable device 0'! this character.

the details of In order that my invention may be more Fig. 5 represents in.

deflection of the sound from the metallic surface. I have determined that a sound modifier should be of such nature as to peri init the sound vibrations to pass through the same without deflection even when the modifier is in closed'position, the intensity or amplitude of the vibrations being, however, lessened by their passage through the ineditier. I One of the objects of my inveiltionyic- Uthcr objc s of my invention reside in construction and combinations of parts more particularly pointed out in the following; specification and appended claims.

clearly understood, attention is hereby .directed to the accompanyingdrawing, fornr inn part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical central section through a talking machine provided with a modifier embodying my invention, ce'tain parts being shown in side elc at-ion; Qicpresenls on an enlarged scale partly on away of a cross section on line 2--2 5151...]; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view fog in sideclcvation and section a por tion oi asound corivevcr providcd with a modification of my sound modifier; Fig. l is a detail sectional view showing the sound modifier of Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale;

section another modifishown in Fig. 1,

.pjauze. As shown in Figs.

pintion 5 of conveyor to the left as cation of my device adapted to be used in place of the modifier shown in Figs. 3 and d: and Fig. through a sound conveyor similar to provided with a sound modifier similar to that illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawings, the talking machine 1 comprises the reproducer 2 and the sound conveyor 3 carrying the same, which sound conveyor, as illustrated, has a portion rearwardly directed from the repro- I ducer thence downwardly into the cabinet at, and thence forwardly in the sound ampliiying exit portion of the conveyer 5. It is, however, obvious that my improved sound modifier may be applied to the sound con- \eying passages of any other form of tallc ing machine.

, in the prcfeired form of my device, the sound modifieraconsists of a sphere 6 which l. oterably consists of a spherical container 7 within which is inclosed a loosely packed mass of cotton waste or horsehair, asbestos cloth. or other cellular or The inclosing case is preferably of wire 1 and 52, modifier 6 is positioned within the large amplifying fill the same at a point adjacent the bend or elbow 8 of the conveyor, or may be moved shown, for example, in. dotted lines in Fig. l, to a position in which itdocs not fill the sound passage. The modifier 6 is preferably moved into adjusted position and there held by the means illustrated, consisting of a spiral spring 9 secured to the rear side of the modifier 6, the other, end of the spring being secured to the inside of the bond 8 of the conveyor. The forward side of the modifier has secured thereto a cord 10 which is adapted to be wound upon a bohhin l1 u'iountcd upon a stem 12 which extends out through the wall of amplifier 5 and is provided on the exterior thereof with a knob 13 for turning the same. A spring ll which is stronger than spring 9 may be interposed between knob 13 and the surface of amplifier 5 to hold the bobbin and sound modifier by friction in any adjusted position. lVhen it is desired to move the r odiier to the left, as shown in Fig. 1, knob 18 is turned in such a direction as to-Wind fibrous material.

3 and may completely 6 represents a partial section that conveyer sound reproduced is not essential,

the cord 10 upon the bobbin 11. When it is desired to move the modifier to the right to restrict or close the air passage, the knob is turned in the opposite direction to unwind the cord 10 from the bobbin.

When the modifier is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, it completely fills the opening and the volume of sound produced by the machine will be a minimum,

the volume increasing as the modifier is moved to the left allowing a certain amount of the sound to pass through the amplifier 5 without contacting the modifier. The amplifier is preferably of a progressively increasing diameter as shown. When the modifier is in the position sh. \vn in full lines, the sound vibrations traveling through 3 pass through the same without with their amplitude or inso that the loudness of the decreased. By forming the sound vibradeflection, but tensity reduced the i'nodifier as a sphere,

. tions in the central portion of the conveyer will have a longer path through the moditier than those near the sides of the conveyer, and will, accordingly, be reduced in amplitude to a greater extent by the modifier. The energy of the vibrations adjacent to the sides of the conveyer, however, is dis sipated to-some degree by friction with the walls of the conveyor, so that the spherical modifier tends to equalize the intensity of the vibrations throughout the conveyor.

While I prefer to inclose the material of the modifier in a wire gauze container, it is although it is preferable because of its strength and durability. In place of the wire gauze a covering of silk or other material which would permit the passage of sound vibrations therethrough might be used.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated another form'of sound modifier consisting of the butterfly valve 6, which may be located in the horizontal arm of the sound conveyor 3. As illustrated, this form of modifier comprises a hollow disk-like container 7 preferably of wire gauze, the interior of the container being filled, as in the first form of my invention, with cotton waste, horsehair, or similar material 15. This valve may be placed in the position illustrated by full lines in Fig. 3, in which all the sound vibra- 'tions must pass therethrough, or, may be rotated toward the position at right angles thereto, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig.

3, in which practically none of the sound vibrations pass therethrough.

Another modified form of my device is illustrated in Fig. 5, in which the device is illustrated as a sliding valve 6 This valve is preferably formed of a wire mesh container witlrthe fibrous or cellular material contained therein, as in the other forms of my invention. This valve may have a stem 16 attached thereto, stem 16 having a head or thumb piece 17. upon the end thereof outside the conveyer, whereby the same may be moved to cover greater or less extent the opening of the sound conveyer 3, as shown. The guide 3 for the slide valve may be positioned at any convenient point in conveyer 3.

In Fig.- 6 Ihave illustrated a. sound modifier G in all respects similar to the butterillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, mounted preferably just above the bend 8 in conveyor 3. Valve 6 has secured thereto or integral therewith the stem 18 extending forwardly in ahorizontal direction and provided on its forward end, in a convenient position. in front of the mouth of amplifier 5, with the head or thumb piece 19, by which modifier 6 may be rotated as described in connection with Fig. 3. Stem 18 may be supported in any convenient manner. If it is desired to have the conv'eyer 3, including, amplifier 5, oscillate during the reproduc tion of a record, stem 18 may pass through the wall of amplifier 5, as shown at 20, and be supported within the mouthof amplifier 5, as by a bracket 21.

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new therein and desire to prbtect by LettersPatent is as follows 1. In combination, a sound conveyor, a. sound modifier mounted withinsaid conveyer, and means comprising a rotatable bobbin and a flexible connection between said bobbin and modifier for moving said modifier into different positions in said c0nveyer, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a sound. conveyer, a sound modifier mounted within said con veyer, resilient means tending to hold said modifier in one position in the air passage in said conveyer, means comprising a rotatable bobbing and a flexible connection between said bobbin and modifier for moving said modifier into other positions in said conveyer, and means normally preventing rotation of said bobbin, substantially as described. I

3. In combination, a sound conveyor, :1 sound modifier mounted within said conveyer, resilient means tendin to hold said modifier in one position in the air passage, in said conveyor, means comprising a' rotatable bobbin and a flexible connection be tween said bobbin and modifier for moving said modifier into other positions in said conveyer, and friction means for preventing-- rotation of said bobbin, substantially as described. f s

41. In combination, a sound conveyor, a sound modifierof a material permitting the passage of sound vibrations therethrough but with diminished intensity mounted within said conveyor, and means comprising a mioiaaa between said] bobbin and modifier for moving said modifier into different positions in said conveyor, substantially as described 5. In combination, a sound conveyor, a sound. modifier mounted within said conveyer, resilient means tending to hold said modifier in one position in the air passage 1n the said con'veyer, andmeans comprising a rotatable bobbin and a flexible connection between said bobbin and modifier for moving said modifier into other positions in said conveyor; substantially as described.

6. In combination, a sound conveyer, a sound modifier 'mounted Within said conveyer, and means comprising a movable member and a flexible member connecting said movable member and modifier for moving said modifier into different positions in sand conveyer, substantially as described.

7. In combination, a sound conveyor, a sound modifier of a material permitting the of sound vibrations therethrough 1th diminished intensity mounted Within said conveyor, a movable member and a flexible member connecting said movable member and modifier for moving said modifier into difieren't positions in said conveyor, substantially as described. I I

8. In combination, a sound conveyer, a sound modifier mounted Within said conveyer, resilient means tendin' to hold said conveyor in one position in t e air passage of the said conveyor, and means comprising a movable member and a flexible member connected to said movable member and modifier for moving positions in said conveyor, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessesd this 7th day of December 1910.

. THOSQ A. EDISON.

, Witnesses:

Dram SMITH, Anna R. KLEHM.

said modifier into other and means comprising 

